Breaking: LeBron James Re-signs with Cavs (and NBA Schedules Released)

Breaking: LeBron James Re-signs with Cavs (and NBA Schedules Released)

2016-08-11 Off By Nate Smith

First order of business, and surprising no one, LeBron is returning to Cleveland. Brian Windhorst of ESPN reports that James has agreed to an historic three year $100 million dollar contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The salary in the first year of the deal will be $31 million, making James the highest-paid player in the NBA for the first time in his career. The salary for the 2017-18 season will top $33 million, making him the highest-paid player in a single season in league history, topping the $33 million Michael Jordan earned with the Chicago Bulls in the 1997-98 season…

James will sign the deal next week when he returns for his annual LeBron James Family Foundation charity event.

James reportedly has a player option for the third year. This marks the first time since LeBron’s return that he hasn’t signed a two year deal with a one year opt out. By signing a two year deal (with a player option third year), LeBron can earn about $4 million more this yea , than he would have been able to with a one year deal (with a player option second year). James also commented at the end of his video on Uninterrupted that it’s time to “get J.R. done.”

In other news, the NBA released the NBA schedule for the 2016-2017 regular season. The end-of-the-bench Cavs will continue their run summer league run with a whopping six pre-season games, culminating in a game at Columbus on Oct. 18th. Then, NBA tips off its season with an Oct. 25th match-up between the Cavs and Knicks at the Q at which time the Cavs will hoist the championship banner, and the team will receive its ringzzz.

The missing banner will be raised Oct. 25th!

The missing banner will be raised Oct. 25th!

Other notable games include a Christmas day game at the Q against the Warriors, and yet another Martin Luther King day game in Golden state on January 16th. Rough stretches for the Cavs include a six game in ten night road stretch in January (ending in Oakland), and a brutal March which features 17 games, 12 of them on the the road and 10 of them against playoff teams.

The regular season should be a gauntlet, but gone will be the hand-wringing of years past. It should be a very fun ride.

 

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